1

According to the Shatapatha Brahmana, the Mlecchas speak the languages of the Asuras of Patala.

  1. The gods then cut her off from the Asuras; and having gained possession of her and enveloped her completely in fire, they offered her up as a holocaust, it being an offering of the gods. And in that they offered her with an anuṣṭubh verse, thereby they made her their own; and the Asuras, being deprived of speech, were undone, crying, 'He ’lavaḥ! he ’lavaḥ!'

  2. Such was the unintelligible speech which they then uttered,--and he (who speaks thus) is a Mleccha (barbarian). Hence let no Brahman speak barbarous language [Mleccha languages], since such is the speech of the Asuras. Thus alone he deprives his spiteful enemies of speech; and whosoever knows this, his enemies, being deprived of speech, are undone.

Which Mleccha civilizations and languages speak the languages of the Asuras? Is it Chinese, Arabic, African, etc?

Does any scripture specify which Mleccha languages are revealed by the Asuras?

Improve this question
5
  • 1
    Kurma Purana somewhere says a Brahmin shouldn't learn Mleccha languages. That is what I know – Spark Sunshine Sep 26 '19 at 17:52
  • If that is the case, even English in which we are all communicating with, shall be considered as Mleccha. I could not understand why this clamour for mleccha word? – Srimannarayana K V Sep 27 '19 at 1:46
  • 2
    @SparkSunshine I remember an instance when Yudhishthira and Vidhur, talked in language of Mleccha. When Pandavas were going to laksha-grah, Vidhur in language of Mleccha alerted Yudhishthira (so that others can't understand), about the danger. – V.Aggarwal Sep 27 '19 at 4:09
  • 1
    @srimannarayanakv I can make a guess here, As many people believe, that when Indian society was advance and highly developed, other societies outside of Indian subcontinent were quite backward, It might be possible that by that time the eastern culture had not developed a proper language and still communicating like cavemen, and when people from India went their, Sanskrit helped them to develop their own language (Its all only a guess), and maybe the restriction was not to learn the original cavemen language, while when they developed their language, it can be learned. – V.Aggarwal Sep 27 '19 at 4:37
  • May be you are partially right. However, as you had stated even Vidura and Yudhisthira were conversant with Mleccha language.@V.Aggarwal – Srimannarayana K V Sep 27 '19 at 4:43
2

In Mahabharata both Vidura and Yudhisthira were described to be conversant with the jargon (of the Mlechchhas).

"And after the citizens had ceased following the Pandavas, Vidura, conversant with all the dictates of morality, desirous of awakening the eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers), addressed him in these words. The learned Vidura, conversant with the jargon (of the Mlechchhas), addressed the learned Yudhishthira who also was conversant with the same jargon, in the words of the Mlechchha tongue, so as to be unintelligible to all except Yudhishthira. "

So even at the time of Mahabharata era, there were Mlecchas and some people residing in Aryavarta or India at that point of time, knew the language of Mlecchas.

It was not mentioned in Mahabharata as to what the Mleccha language was.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .